Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: crow
Chapter 67: Ambush
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Yuseong's group had swapped horses and departed from the Murim Alliance's Chang'an branch half a day ago.
Hiiing—!
Thud—!
Hearing the familiar sound, Yuseong's group stepped out of the carriage.
"Again?"
The horses collapsed once more, jolting the carriage heavily.
This time, bad luck struck—some of the warriors were injured.
The merchant's son, who had gritted his teeth and selected the horses with fierce determination, hung his head low again.
"I'll treat them."
Yuseong quickly healed the injured warriors and horses.
But once again, it turned out that one of the horses pulling the carriage had been poisoned.
"Did you check the horse feed thoroughly?"
"We confirmed there were no poisonous herbs before feeding them this time."
"I drank from the stream too, and I'm fine."
As it became clear that nothing fed to the horses was the issue, everyone's expressions grew grave.
"It seems someone tampered with the horses when we swapped them. Who would dare pull this on a Murim Alliance procession during a mission?"
This was the second time the horses had been poisoned.
It wasn't coincidence—it was sabotage.
Their suspicions about the various obstacles blocking their path up until now hardened into certainty.
It wasn't an outright attack; there was some other goal.
Cheongun Elder spoke.
"Someone definitely wants to slow our pace. We can't play into their hands. We'll have to push harder and speed up, no matter what."
Yuseong's group increased their speed.
They pressed on to the next village, whipping the horses past the distance they would normally cover by resting at a village in the early evening.
More obstacles appeared along the way.
Massive trees or boulders blocking narrow paths were among them.
Late into the night.
They passed the usual village and reached the next one.
They had raced with torches lit, but now it was too dark.
They had to rest here.
However.
"We heard you treated patients in another village before. Please take a look at us too! We've been waiting!"
Despite the late hour and no certainty when Yuseong's group would arrive,
word had somehow spread, and patients with ailments flocked to the inn where Yuseong's group was unloading.
Some dragged their legs, while others clutched their chests or stomachs.
"Word couldn't have spread this fast."
Even without Cheongun Elder's words, everyone thought the same.
Hadn't they been traveling at full speed?
One warrior asked the patients.
"Where did you hear we'd arrive right now?"
"About an hour ago, some guy said he'd been healed by the Divine Physician and that the Divine Physician would soon visit this village to treat patients! We've been waiting ever since, believing him!"
"Who was that man?"
"We'd never seen him before, but he said he was from the next village over!"
Someone had exploited the patients' desperation to gather them here.
"It looks like they won't even let us rest easy. In this situation, it's fine if I don't treat them."
Yuseong took a step back.
He wanted to build up his divine power, but unknown enemies might be luring patients here to wear down the group's fatigue.
He had no spare capacity to handle patients while risking that.
But.
"Please, just look at my mother! Her condition seems worse after waiting so long!"
"Please, just me! I hurt too!"
Noticing the Murim Alliance members discussing gravely, the patients clamored again for their own treatment.
"If the Murim Alliance and the Divine Physician turn us away, what are we supposed to do? Please help!"
"Exactly!"
As the leader, Cheongun Elder had to make a decision.
Though they weren't martial artists of the rivers and lakes, they were invoking the Murim Alliance and Yuseong.
If they weren't departing immediately, ignoring them came with too many complications.
He said to Yuseong.
"Medical Pavilion Leader, I'm sorry, but could you treat just the urgent cases?"
"I'm fine with it, but the warriors won't rest properly and will get fatigued. I'm sorry—it seems like taking patients in Chang'an led us into this mess."
"No, it's the fault of those exploiting desperate patients. How could it be yours? Don't worry about the warriors. We'll set up guards with volunteers only."
"Understood."
Cheongun Elder had his warriors send away all but the most urgent-looking patients.
Even so, quite a few remained.
The Healing skill restored patients' bodies but not their mental stamina.
The warriors were fairly exhausted, but Yuseong didn't tire easily.
Treating patients only filled him with more vitality.
Nangong Yurin volunteered to guard Yuseong.
Even she, not at Peak Realm, was fatigued, but she wanted to stay close and watch him.
No matter how ill they looked, patients recovered in an instant once he applied acupuncture.
He treated them with passion and rejoiced as if it were his own victory when they healed.
'The one who should be most tired here, having lost his martial arts, is the Medical Pavilion Leader...'
It was said no one but Yuseong could wield medical arts through divine arts.
His words came to mind again.
'The will of heaven...'
Lately, Nangong Yurin had realized something.
She was born with exceptional sword talent.
Even after losing the ability to properly wield a sword due to a childhood incident, she'd never found learning it difficult.
Even when her grandfather taught her the Nangong Family's supreme secret art, Emperor Sword Form.
She had mastered it in a remarkably short time.
Her brother had trained under Grandfather for years yet never learned the latter parts.
'If I truly was born with sword genius by heaven's will, perhaps there's a righteous purpose for this talent.'
She declined shifts with the other warriors and stayed by Yuseong's side until he finished treating all the patients.
***
The checkpoint Yuseong's group aimed to pass was located in terrain so rugged it was called the Sichuan Road.
This pass came after traversing a path flanked by towering canyons on left and right.
The canyon flanking the checkpoint was named Sword-Sealing Valley, meaning the valley that sealed swords.
Black-clad figures in black masks looked down on the Murim Alliance group entering Sword-Sealing Valley.
The Black Shadow Corps leader said to his deputy standing beside him.
"They've reached it first after all."
"I'm sorry, Leader."
The deputy bowed his head.
As soon as the leader learned Yuseong was heading to Sichuan, he had gathered all nearby Black Shadow Corps members.
Their mission was to delay the Murim Alliance group until the cult's elites arrived.
Despite all their tricks, they hadn't slowed the Alliance group much.
"It's fine. Who could've predicted the Divine Physician could even heal horses?"
"..."
"The plan hit a snag, but we can't let them pass the checkpoint easily. Only one option left. Somehow, secure the Divine Physician with just the Black Shadow Corps."
The Black Shadow Corps excelled in assassination and intelligence disruption, but their members were demonic cultivators trained to a considerable level.
Inferior to the Murim Alliance's procession, but they could create an opportunity.
If they missed Baek Yuseong now, who knew how long they'd have to wait.
***
It was now certain someone was sabotaging to delay the Murim Alliance group's schedule.
Cheongun Elder inferred their goal.
"Jeongu Taoist, perhaps Yucheon Immortal's condition has worsened?"
"It's possible. It's been so long since I left Qingcheng Mountain—who knows what happened in the meantime. We must hurry."
Jeongu Taoist couldn't hide his anxiety.
If his guess was right, Yucheon Immortal's life might be at risk if Yuseong didn't reach Qingcheng Sect in time.
With Yuseong's help restoring the horses' stamina, Cheongun Elder pushed for forced marches.
Unable to camp every day, they stopped at villages where pitiful patients swarmed again.
The warriors' fatigue accumulated as they couldn't rest properly during the forced march.
Still, once they passed the checkpoint and entered Sichuan, the Murim Alliance's Sichuan branch was nearby.
They could get news on Yucheon Immortal and adjust plans easily.
Soon, towering canyons loomed before them.
"That's Sword-Sealing Valley. The checkpoint is just beyond."
"Tell everyone to stay on high alert."
"Yes."
The Murim Alliance members advanced cautiously, scanning their surroundings.
Sword-Sealing Valley's rugged terrain had seen many incidents in the past.
Plenty of ambush spots meant sudden attacks were possible.
And sure enough.
"Ambush!"
As soon as unidentified masked figures appeared at the canyon's entrance, a mounted Murim Alliance warrior shouted.
Cheongun Elder leaped out with the experts, instructing the top priority protectees and Murim Academy students.
"Medical Pavilion Leader, stay put here with Nangong Young Lady."
"I'll help too!"
Cheongun Elder stopped Yuseong.
"It's dangerous. Someone might be aiming arrows."
He had a point.
But it wasn't safe inside the carriage either.
Vision was limited, leaving them vulnerable to blind arrows piercing through.
Yuseong believed going out to assist was best.
"It's not safe here either. I'll provide support with divine arts."
Nangong Yurin chimed in.
"I'll protect you, Medical Pavilion Leader."
She could block arrows if focused.
Cheongun Elder agreed.
"You can use divine arts for battle too, beyond medicine? Good—I'm counting on you!"
The group stepped out.
Masked figures radiating demonic energy charged at them.
Yuseong gripped the Heavenly Fortune Stone.
'Reminds me of the old days.'